CVE-2011-5088 in GENESIS32
Summary
by MITRE
The GENESIS32 IcoSetServer ActiveX control in ICONICS GENESIS32 9.21 and BizViz 9.21 configures the trusted zone on the basis of user input, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site, related to a "Workbench32/WebHMI component SetTrustedZone Policy vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2019
The CVE-2011-5088 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in ICONICS GENESIS32 9.21 and BizViz 9.21 software where the GENESIS32 IcoSetServer ActiveX control improperly handles user input when configuring the trusted zone. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-248 category, which deals with Uncaught Exception conditions in software systems, specifically manifesting as improper access control mechanisms within ActiveX components. The flaw stems from the control's design to accept user-provided input for determining trust boundaries, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the trusted zone configuration through crafted web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed malicious website that leverages the ActiveX control's trust zone configuration mechanism. When a user visits such a site, the control processes the attacker-controlled input and modifies the trusted zone settings in a manner that allows arbitrary code execution. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where a user with normal browsing privileges can gain elevated system access. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the browser's ActiveX plugin architecture, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have access to internal networks through web browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential full system compromise within environments running affected software versions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors on compromised systems. The vulnerability affects organizations using ICONICS GENESIS32 and BizViz products in industrial control systems and web-based HMI environments, where the software typically runs with elevated privileges and has access to critical infrastructure components. This makes the attack vector particularly dangerous in operational technology environments where system integrity and availability are paramount.
Security mitigations for CVE-2011-5088 should focus on immediate remediation through official vendor patches and updates. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions to prevent access to potentially malicious websites and consider disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers where possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices around trust zone management and input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual ActiveX control behavior to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations using these industrial control systems should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments and ensure all systems are updated to patched versions that properly validate user input for trust zone configuration.